Tag Archives: Hawaii

Democratic legislators will today meet with Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie to strategize on calling a special session to vote on marriage equality. A spokeswoman for the House of Representatives said Thursday the meeting is to be held at the state Capitol.  The meeting comes more than a week after Abercrombie released an 18-page draft of legislation that would allow marriage …

“Governor Abercrombie has announced his intention to call a special session of the legislature in the event that there appear to be enough votes to redefine marriage in Hawaii to make it genderless. We’re urgently asking you to act right now to let your elected officials know that you oppose any such measure, and that they should vote to preserve …

“Would people who firmly believe that God made us male and female, and that God has revealed that homosexual ACTS are sinful be allowed to hold such beliefs? Or would they have to be ‘re-educated’ to think as ‘normal’ people think? Would churches that refuse to celebrate same-sex marriage because of deeply held religious convictions be deprived of the freedom …

Promising news out of Hawaii: Hawaii state House Democrats will meet this week to gauge whether they can come up with the votes to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. If there is sufficient support, and if legislative leaders can agree on language that would withstand court challenges, Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) will call a special session to deal with …

Yesterday a Hawaiian court ruled in favor of a lesbian couple that was turned away from a bed & breakfast.  Via Lambda Legal: In today’s ruling, the Court found that Aloha Bed & Breakfast violated the state public accommodations law, and also ordered Aloha Bed & Breakfast to stop its ongoing business practice of discriminating against same-sex couples. Cervelli and …

(Via Towleroad)

Marriage Equality USA’s Ned Flaherty makes some bold predictions today at Policy Mic: The next 12 states where legalization is underway are known, and the order in which they’re finishing is now predictable. By the end of 2014, these next 12 states will join the 10 other jurisdictions that already have full marriage equality: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Maine, …

Hawaii’s same-sex marriage bill might be off the table. The state House Judiciary Committee has decided not to schedule a hearing for a bill that would legalize gay marriage, which means the issue is likely tabled for this legislative session. State Rep. Karl Rhoads, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that after polling his colleagues he determined there was …

“Dear Marriage Supporter, We urgently need your help to stop same-sex marriage in Hawaii. Twenty years ago, an out-of-control judge first tried to force same-sex marriage on Hawaii, launching our nation’s ongoing debate about marriage. But thanks to a dedicated band of pro-family heroes, his ruling was not the final word! It’s a story we’ve seen play out time and …

Hawaii GOP state Sen. Sam Slom, who opposes marriage equality, today conceded that it’s probably a waste of time to fight the pending bill. “Same sex marriage probably will pass this year. You’ve got a preponderance of Democrats who support it in both Houses, you’ve got the Congressional delegation, you’ve got our Governor!” said Senator Slom. And you’ve got women …

Marriage equality bills were introduced yesterday in Hawaii’s Senate and House. The Human Rights Campaign provides some history: This year marks the 20th anniversary of Baehr v. Lewin, the Hawaii State Supreme Court opinion that sparked our nation’s marriage equality movement. In the opinion, Justice Steven Levinson said, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due …

Details.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named his second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, to replace Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died last week after almost 50 years in office. “I asked how best could we ensure that Hawaii remain strong in the long run,” Abercrombie said, adding that rebuilding the state’s seniority in Congress was a priority. “I made this decision with …

Just-elected Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the first Hindu person elected to Congress, has submitted herself to replace venerable Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died last week after almost 50 years in the Senate. “In the military, I learned that ‘leadership’ means raising your hand and volunteering for the tough, important assignments,” Gabbard said in a statement announcing her application to fill …

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, who once compared same-sex marriage to incest and who cruelly called in LGBT advocates only so she could veto a civil unions bill in their presence, has LOST her bid for the U.S. Senate.  Welcome, Sen. Mazie Hirono, who DOES support your full civil equality.

“It looks like the Department of Health and Hawaii Family Forum have the upper hand. A lot of the credit for that goes to our friends at ADF, who defended the Forum–and traditional marriage–in court. No doubt their arguments helped shape Judge Kay’s opinion, which powerfully outlines the importance of man-woman marriage to civilization. ‘It is not beyond rational speculation …

Yesterday a federal judge ruled against two women who sued the state over the inadequacy of Hawaii’s civil unions law. U.S. District Court Judge Alan C. Kay’s ruling sides with Hawaii Health Director Loretta Fuddy and Hawaii Family Forum, a Christian group that was allowed to intervene in the case. “Accordingly, Hawaii’s marriage laws are not unconstitutional,” the ruling states. …

Last month Hawaii Gov. Neal Abercrombie announced that he would not defend the state against a lawsuit claiming that the existing civil unions law unconstitutionally deprives residents of the right to same-sex marriage. Today the Alliance Defense Fund announced that they have petitioned for standing to intervene. Unless I’m reading the linked news item wrong, this may be the first …

UPDATE: The pair were also interviewed by Miami Herald columnist Steve Rothaus. “I honestly knew I was in love with him from the first moment I met him,” Morgan says, adding that before he came out he had made “a lot of mistakes,” including marrying a woman. During Morgan’s six months in Afghanistan, “there was nonstop letter writing every day.” …